City have issues in midfield...

For all their obvious quality, Manchester City still have problems in their midfield. They started well enough here at Goodison, but when Everton hit their stride, they began to dominate the middle of the park, and that gave them a foothold in the game.

Yaya Toure was initially used behind a striker with Fabian Delph deeper, but that left them one dimensional. Conversely, when Toure dropped into the middle, it left City out numbered – and that is a problem they have wrestled with for several seasons.

...and Roberto Martinez took advantage

Roberto Martinez was not going to ignore that, and he showed here that for all his emphasis on playing the same way, and not worrying about the opposition, he IS prepared to adapt. He played, essentially, a 4-3-3 here for the first time this season with Mo Besic providing an extra body in the middle so Everton could swamp the area.

And while it meant they had little attacking threat early on, it allowed them to turn the screw as the game progressed, and gave them their golden period either side of half time.

Gareth Barry rolls back the years

Gareth Barry was a key figure in that. He may be well into the veteran stage, but nobody does more running that him, and nobody has a calmer appraisal of defensive situations that he does, which is why he tends to be in the right place at the right time to snuff out danger. He even turned provider for Lukaku's goal, curling over a superb cross.

For all the money City have spent on midfielders, they've not really replaced his calm assurance, and that must have provided some satisfaction last night.

No control for the visitors

If Pep Guardiola was watching, he'll have wondered why City didn't control the game better, because they were dominant early and yet let it slip alarmingly. The Spanish coach though, will learn when he finally arrives in the Premier League that the passion of the game here does strange things to the balance of contests, and that will take him some time to come to terms with – as Jurgen Klopp has already discovered this season. There are no gimmes in English football any more. Except perhaps when you play Villa.

Undone: City failed to make the most of their early dominance... (Photo: Action Images via Reuters)

Silverware on Manuel Pellegrini's mind

Manuel Pellegrini wants to win this trophy, make no mistake about that. He picked just about his strongest side last night, and he will do the same for the second leg because he knows just how dangerous opponents Everton can be with the pace of Deulofeu and Lukaku.

The Chilean knows his days are numbered, but it would be something if he got to the end of the season with a collection of trophies wouldn't it, say three or even four? Which is probably why he's trying so hard in this competition.